/ Updated July 30th, 2020

Chemotherapy for Ovarian Cancer During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Creator: Dr. Marta Crispens
Published: 2020-05-25T12:41:50-04:00

Medical Source: Dr. Marta Crispens
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

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Special Considerations during the Pandemic

Treatment recommendations may be altered for safety during the pandemic
Some doctor visits can be made via telemedicine
Oral chemotherapy drugs may temporarily replace intravenous treatments to avoid hospital visits
Labwork can sometimes be done locally
Each patient’s situation must be considered individually with a medical provider

While nearly everyone worldwide is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, ovarian cancer patients have specific concerns about the risk of infection. Researchers and oncologists are working hard to understand how the virus affects cancer patients, and whether treatments should be altered or postponed during the pandemic. "Our knowledge of the disease is rapidly growing and changing every day, and decisions regarding therapy have to be made on an individual basis between a provider and a patient," says Dr. Marta Crispens, a gynecologic oncologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.

One complicating factor is that while knowledge of COVID-19 is still developing, many cancer treatments can't wait until more is known. "Unfortunately cancer is a disease that, in many cases, we would consider urgent, so many patients are going to have to continue their cancer treatment," says Dr. Crispens.

In some cases treatments for ovarian cancer will continue exactly as they did before the pandemic, with scheduled surgeries that are considered essential proceeding as planned, and chemotherapy drugs administered as usual. In other cases treatments for ovarian cancer may be altered or postponed, depending on individual circumstances. "It needs to be an ongoing conversation between the patient and her provider as to how best to do that," says Dr. Crispens.

Using Telemedicine

One way cancer care has changed, for example, is that many hospitals and medical offices are now scheduling telemedicine rather than in-person visits whenever possible. "Doctors can use portals like Zoom to speak to patients directly without having physical contact," explains Dr. Crispens. Patients can discuss any symptoms or concerns, tell the doctor their experience with side effects, and ask any questions they have during these virtual visits.

But treating cancer rather than just talking about it requires a different approach. "Someone who is on intravenous chemotherapy obviously has to come to a medical facility for an infusion," says Dr. Crispens. "And anyone who's getting any kind of treatment is still going to need to have regular lab work done." But even these practices can be accomplished more safely during the pandemic. "Labs can be done locally in some cases," says Dr. Crispens. "And there are instances in which patients can be on oral chemotherapy drugs instead of intravenous ones. In that case they can have their labs done locally and have a tele-health visit with their doctor, and be able to avoid the doctor's office or hospital.”

The important thing is to remember that there are many options for ovarian cancer treatment, even in the middle of a pandemic. Surgery is still being performed, and chemotherapy is still being administered. Patients and their doctors can decide together what kind of treatment protocol is best given their specific medical issues and the reality of the pandemic.

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Marta A. Crispens, MD, is director, division of gynecologic oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Read More

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